PRICING NOTICE: Launch of China pig iron import price assessment

Fastmarkets on Thursday August 26 launches a fortnightly assessment of the China pig iron import price, reported on a US-dollar-per-tonne-cfr-China basis.

After a consultation period that ended on August 9, Fastmarkets has launched its pig iron, import, cfr China, $ per tonne assessment, effective on Thursday August 26.

Market sources expect China to import pig iron in increasing volumes due to its evolving steel industry. They also believe that pig iron will play a vital role in the decarbonization of the steel sector in China.

China imported approximately 5.6 million tonnes of pig iron in 2020, more than five times the 1.0 million tonnes it imported in 2019. In the first seven months of 2021, the country has imported 1.4 million tonnes of the steelmaking raw material.

The proposed specifications for the price assessment are as follows:

MB-IRO-0178 Pig iron, import, cfr China, $ per tonne
Quality: Manganese 1.25% max; Phosphorus 0.15% max
Typical weight: 5kg per piece, max 25kg per piece
Quantity: Minimum 5,000 tonnes
Location: cfr main ports China
Timing: 6-12 weeks
Unit: $ per tonne
Payment terms: Letter of credit on sight
Publication: Fortnightly, Thursday, by 6pm Shanghai time.

To provide feedback on this price, or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter, please contact Tianran Zhao or Paul Lim by email at: pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading: “FAO: Tianran Zhao/Paul Lim, re: China pig iron prices.”

To see all of Fastmarkets’ pricing methodology and specification documents, go to https://www.fastmarkets.com/about-us/methodology.

What to read next
Fastmarkets has corrected its assessment for AG-TLW-0001 Bleachable Fancy Tallow - Packer Chicago (cts/lb) published on February 27.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ MB-STS-0332 Stainless steel cold-rolled sheet, 2mm, grade 316, transaction domestic, delivered North Europe, €/tonne averages between August 2025 and February 2026 was delayed because of a procedural lapse.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ assessments for MB-STE-0093 Steel scrap auto bundle scrap domestic, delivered Turkey and MB-STE-0094 Steel scrap melting scrap from shipbreaking domestic, delivered Turkey on March 2 were delayed because of a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.
The launch of these new prices reflect the value disparity of different grades of iron ore in China’s portside market. The specifications of the new prices are as follows: MB-IRO-0196 Iron ore 65% Fe fines, fot Qingdao, yuan/wet metric tonneQuality: Fe content base 65%, range 63.5-66%; Silica base 3%, max 5%; alumina base 1.8%, max […]
The publication of these prices was delayed for 54 minutes. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated. The following prices were affected: • MB-FEO-0004 molybdenum, MB drummed molybdic oxide Mo, in-whs Busan• MB-FEO-0003 molybdenum, drummed molybdic oxide, 57% Mo min, in-whs Rotterdam• MB-FEO-0001 ferro-molybdenum, 65% Mo min, in-whs Rotterdam. These prices are part of the Fastmarkets ores and alloys […]
The publication of several of Fastmarkets' copper concentrates indices was delayed on Friday February 27 because of a technical error. Fastmarkets' pricing database has been updated.